RICHARD MILLE AND SP80 TEAM TO BREAK SAILING SPEED RECORD
Richard Mille is supporting Swiss boat builder SP80 in its latest challenge to break the world sailing speed record in 2022 . Alongside materials maker North Thin Ply Technology ( which supplies cases for Richard Mille ) the team is now working on the crucial stage of producing the sailing boat , which will have to reach a speed of 150 km / h ( 80 knots ) using the wind as its sole source of power .
To break the world speed record of 65 knots ( 121 km / h ) set in 2012 , the SP80 team is developing a sailing boat measuring 7 meters long and 6 meters wide with a hull made entirely from Carbon TPT and propelled by a kite spanning 20 meters . The team has also filed a patent for a power management system , which transmits all the power from the kite to the boat ’ s foil while maintaining stability at high speed .
“ Richard Mille ’ s involvement in the SP80 adventure is a source of great pride and incredible motivation for our young team ,” explains Mayeul van den Broek , co-founder of SP80 . “ It means that we can step up our development and begin building our sailing boat , so that it can make its first journeys out to sea in 2022 .”
24 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | FALL 2021